CDC recommends we not travel for Thanksgiving
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is recommending against travel for Thanksgiving.
During a press briefing Thursday, Dr. Henry Walke, the CDC’S COVID-19 incident manager, said the agency is “recommending against travel during the Thanksgiving period.”
“The tragedy that could happen is that one of your family members is coming to this family gathering and they could end up severely ill, hospitalized or dying. And we don’t want that to happen,” he said, as COVID-19 cases tick up across the country. “These times are tough, it’s been a long outbreak, almost 11 months, and we understand people are tired.”
He continued: “We understand that people want to see their family and relatives and do it as they’ve always done it. But this year we’re asking them to limit their travel.”
The virus has killed more than 251,000 Americans, with 1,700 deaths reported Wednesday alone.
Walke added that Americans who do decide to travel for the holiday should do so “as safely as possible by following the same recommendations for everyday living,” including wearing a mask, staying 6 feet apart and washing your hands.
If you plan to host a gathering, the CDC recommends keeping it outdoors, limiting the number of people and having guests bring their own food and drink. If food is being shared, the agency suggests having only one person serve the food.
Walke also discussed who should be considered safe after traveling to the gathering.
“Anyone who has not lived in your household for the last 14 days should not be considered a member of your household,” he said. “Regardless of where they’ve been, if they’re coming home and they haven’t been living with you, you definitely need to take precautions. Having their own bathroom for someone who might be an overnight guest, for example.”
As for specific Thanksgiving safety tips, the CDC recommends:
h Bringing your own food, drinks, plates, cups and utensils
h Avoiding passing by areas where food is being prepared, such as the kitchen
h Using single-use options, like salad dressing and condiment packets
h Using disposable items like food containers, plates and utensils
Contributing: Elizabeth Weise and Dawn Gilbertson, USA TODAY